Former Governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano, has been arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (C) on nine counts of alleged N4 billion fraud during his tenure from March 2014 to March 2022. The 68-year-old pleaded not guilty before Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The prosecution disclosed that 14 witnesses are lined up to testify against Obiano in the ongoing legal proceedings. Despite his plea, the legal battle is set to unfold in the coming days.
Sylvanus Tahir, counsel for the EFCC, requested Obiano’s remand in the custody of the anti-graft agency. However, Obiano is presently on administrative bail, including conditions such as providing two sureties who are civil service directors with landed properties in Abuja.
Justice Ekwo adopted the existing administrative bail conditions but introduced additional measures. Obiano is required to stay within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and his travel documents must be submitted to the court. The court also directed immigration authorities to be notified of the custody of all travel documents.
The legal proceedings against Obiano commenced shortly after he handed over power to Governor Chukwuma Soludo in March 2022. The EFCC arrested him at the Murtala Muhammad International Airport, Lagos, as he attempted to leave the country for Houston, Texas, in the United States.
